In vitro anthelmintic efficacy of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad on Haemonchus contortus

Abstract

Ethno-veterinary medicinal studies associated with traditional uses of the flora of the Cholistan desert have shown that fruits of Citrullus colocynthis are used for the treatment of helminth infections. The present research was designed to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of C. colocynthis against H. contortus. The in vitro anthelmintic effects of aqueous-methanol and ethyl acetate fruit extracts of C. colocynthis against H. contortus were determined through egg hatch and adult motility assays. The effect of four serial dilutions of 25 mg/mL of each extract compared to levamisol (0.55 mg/mL) and oxfendazole (three serial dilutions of 25 µg/mL) were studied. Both ethyl acetate and aqueous-methanol extracts paralyzed all adult worms 4h and 8h post-exposure at a dose of 25 mg/mL each. In the egg hatch assay, about 83.67% and 80.67% of H. contortus eggs failed to hatch with the same dose (i.e. 25 mg/mL) of ethyl acetate and CAME extracts, respectively. The results of the present study strongly support fruit extracts of C. colocynthis as a promising alternative to synthetic drugs against H. contortus. These findings will lead to further in vivo studies to investigate the bio-availability of the active ingredients of the plant and the minimum non-lethal concentration required for treatment of haemonchosis in livestock. The anthelmintic effects of C. colocynthis might be attributed to the presence of phenolic acids.